IMGC Community Development Projects in Pakistan
IMGC has undertaken a host of community development projects in Pakistan from financing scholarships for qualified and deserving students who cannot afford higher education to providing cash and in-kind support to families in need of money, food and shelter. In Multan, they are operating a free diagnostic clinic for the people who cannot afford to go to doctors. Most of the patients are provided with free medication at the clinic as well.
IMGC’s biggest achievement has been in Nowshera where they are operating a full fledge English Medium School (1st to 10th Grades/Matriculation), a center for local women to learn arts and crafts to support themselves and their families and a free diagnostic clinic. NWFP is one of the least developed regions in Pakistan. The Education and Health Sectors are in extremely poor shape with a high rate of illiteracy and poor health amongst its citizens. This is even worse for the local women as they are denied basic education, vocational training and basic health needs. IMGC’s main aim is to provide much needed help and relief to the local women. Initially, they faced obstacles from the local people, but now local residents including men support IMGC in its efforts to help women.
AL Rashid Model School was established in 1993 with a handful of students, but in 14 years it has over 450 students with more than 280 girls. Most of the students are provided free education with free school supplies and uniforms. Each year they added grades for students to continue their education. The students would ultimately appear at the local Matriculation Exams. We have now graduated 4 batches of students. The other schools in the region lack infrastructure and proper staff whereas our AL Rashid is located in a big building with proper classrooms and the necessary discipline that is needed for a successful institution.
Hunarkada is a women-only center where women learn various crafts and vocations that can be helpful in supplementing their families’ incomes. Poverty is so prevalent in the region that more and more families are in need of additional income. The center provides a platform where women come for a period of six months and leave after a proper assessment of their respective craft.
The Hafiz Rashid Clinic has two female doctors working to provide free diagnosis and medicines for the local residents, especially women. There are many nearby villages where there is absolutely no medical care available. The poverty factor and the distance force many people to abandon the need to see a doctor in emergencies and sickness. This medical facility is a timely relief for the local residents. Each day, over 60-70 patients are seen by the doctors and most of them are provided with medicine on the spot.
